Roni Sofer
Photo: Gabi Menashe
Photo op in Holy Land
Obama’s trip to Israel a photo opportunity aimed at America’s Jewish voters
“You think Obama came here in order to solve Israel’s problems? No, this is an election campaign visit. His words are not aimed at Israeli ears, but rather, at the Jewish vote in the United States” – this is what a senior official associated with Defense Minister Ehud Barak
said a few minutes after US presidential hopeful Barack Obama left the police station in Sderot.
He wanted to show people that he knows what to do, that he understands the issues, and that he can sink with authoritative comfort into the couches of world leaders hosting him. He only came in order to be photographed, say things that are already known to everyone, and not annoying anyone too much; not to make any mistakes on the way to the White House.
All that Obama wanted in his one busy day in Israel was a good photograph. The media-covered journey that saw him visit seven countries in eight days was meant to show that Obama can be the president of the world’s greatest power.
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Obama made several declarations, virtually all of them expected. In respect to Jerusalem: Israel’s eternal capital. In respect to Iran: Talk to it using big sticks and big carrots. In respect to Hamas in Gaza: It is difficult for Israel to talk to those who do not recognize its existence. In respect to the rockets: Had my daughters been sleeping in a home that is attacked by missiles, I would have done everything to stop it. In respect to Mahmoud Abbas: We need to take advantage of the window of opportunity with moderates like him on the other side. I will work to continue the dialogue. And finally, in respect to the US: Israel’s greatest friend and ally.
Sderot, which has been enjoying several weeks of calm while Hamas is growing stronger, is a good backdrop for a photo to be sent back home. The extras at the Israeli photo site were the following figures: The Amar family, whose home was destroyed by a rocket and has yet to be rebuilt; Osher Twito, the child who lost his leg in a Qassam attack; Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; President Shimon Peres; Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni; Defense Minister Ehud Barak; Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter; Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal; and Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski.
The movie itself will be screened in Washington in November, during the presidential elections.
Say cheese, everyone
Yet the desire to be photographed was not only reserved to the senator from Illinois, but also encompassed the members of the Israeli government. Two days before the traditional flight over Israel, Barak asked Livni to join the tour. Livni agreed, and an IDF major general had to skip the trip to make room for the defense minister.
In practice, Barak was the one who dominated the talk with the senator, while the foreign minister remained silent most of the time.
Livni was supposed to take a leading role in Sderot, yet Minister Avi Dichter arrived there and took advantage of Obama’s visit to the police station in town in order to present his doctrine to the presidential candidate.
Dichter spoke about his Holocaust-surviving mother, which resides in Ashkelon, not too far from Gaza. He told Obama about the family he raises there, about the thousands of rockets and mortar shells that have been fired so far, and about the continued military buildup of Hamas and other terror group. Israel won’t allow a terror entity to be established between us and Egypt Dichter told Obama.
Meanwhile, a senior figure associated with the foreign minister said: “Livni scored points with her gesture to Barak. She showed noble leadership. She showed that she can be a prime minister, and that she will have a good defense minister. She showed that both of them can cooperate.”
